WSIB Workwell Audit
Audit Program Overview
The Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) has developed a workplace audit program called Workwell. Workwell conducts Health & Safety audits of firms with poor safety records with a focus on encouraging the development of an effective internal responsibility system in the workplace. Because unsafe firms increase health and safety costs for everyone, the WSIB performs on-site health and safety evaluations of workplaces that have consistently poor safety records. Based on these evaluations, employers can be assessed premium increases in addition to any other surcharges that have been levied. Evaluated employers receive a report on health and safety deficiencies found in their workplace and recommendations for improvement.
Audit Safety Program Detail
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Act allows the WSIB to use actual workplace conditions as a factor in determining a firm’s premiums. The WSIB audit evaluates these conditions by touring employers’ workplaces, examining health and safety programs, observing health and safety practices, and interviewing workers.
The Audit Evaluation Process
- You will receive a letter from the WSIB advising you that your organization has been selected for a Workwell evaluation.
- A Workwell evaluator will set up an appointment for a visit to carry out the audit.
- The Workwell evaluator will meet with you and a worker representative and will:
- Observe the firms' health and safety practices and audit safety procedures (Health and Safety Management System)
- Conduct random interviews with workers on-site
- Review relevant records and documentation relating health and safety.
- The Workwell evaluator will then send the employer an audit report. This report may also be sent to MOL and your industry's safe workplace association.
- If your company fails the audit safety evaluation, you will have six months to demonstrate improvement. At that time a second audit will be completed.
- If your company fails the second audit , an additional charge is applied to your premium. This can range from 10% to 75% of your original premium. This could result in financial implications with potential surcharges of up to $500,000 in some instances.
Can your company risk failure to comply with WSIB Workwell Audit ? Can you afford to take the chance of failing an audit twice?
Proactive Health and Safety Solutions Can Help Your Organization?
PHS Solutions provides organizations with a number of services designed to meet the Workwell requirements.
These include:
- Workwell Equivalent Mocl Audit
- PHS Solutions will conduct a Workwell equivalent audit and provide your organization with specific recommendations for compliance, and towards developing and strengthening your Health and Safety Management System. The audit will identify and score each element of the Workwell Audit in order to highlight strengths and opportunities for improvement within your Health and Safety Management System.
- Audit Safety Components Include:
- Consultation with key personnel to discuss and review established Health & Safety program activity
- Conduct a tour of audit location(s) to become familiar with the overall operations
- Conduct the audit utilizing the Workwell Audit Tool. This will include documentation and record review, interviews and field verification.
- Provide an audit safety report based on the findings of the Audit which will include current strengths, opportunities for improvement and scoring.
- Recommend an Action Plan to bring your Health & Safety Management System to the Workwell compliance level.
- Consulting for Health and Safety Program Development
- Health & Safety Standards and Procedures Development
- Health and Safety Management System Design and Implementation
- WSIB Claims Management
- Safety Training
- Health and Safety Law
- Certification Part I and Part II
- WHMIS
- Customized Training
- Audit Safety Products
